Tag Archives for " Mixing Engineer’s Handbook "
- in Book Excerpt , Engineering by Bobby Owsinski
Does Your Mix Have Any Of These 8 Traits?
Before you can even delve into creating a great mix, it’s good to be aware of the traits of one that isn’t there yet. These 8 traits of an amateur mix come from the 5th edition of my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook and are useful in picking out problem areas, looking at it from a global […]
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Get A Great Drum Sound With These 14 Sound Replacement Tips
Although you may be great at recording drums and have a great sounding studio with an excellent signal chain, the two chief variables in the recording are the drummer and his drums. No amount of technique or gear can overcome a bad sounding kit or a drummer that hits inconsistently, hence the importance of sound […]
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5 Simple EQ Tips That Just About Always Work
Equalization is one of the most difficult parts of recording to get the hang of since there’s literally almost an infinite number of possibilities. Most of us learn by experience and usually massive amounts of trial and error before our ears become trained to recognize EQ problems when we hear them, but there are some very […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Production by Bobby Owsinski
You Know Your Mix Is Finished When It Has These 8 Things
One of the hardest things for many mixers to determine is when a mix is finished. In fact, engineers new to mixing may think a mix is ready in an hour, but a pro will usually take considerably longer in most cases. How much longer? Well, some big hit maker mixers that I know may spend up […]
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Consider These Enhancement Techniques For A Better Drum Sound
Even if you are great at recording drums and have a great sounding studio with an excellent signal chain, the two chief variables in the recording are the drummer and his or her drums. No amount of technique or gear can overcome a bad sounding kit or a drummer that hits inconsistently, but these enhancement […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Production , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
The 6 Track Editing Tips Every Mix Engineer Should Know
Mix engineers are called upon to do so much more than ever before. Individual track editing used to be done by the producer way before the mixing stage, but mixers now find that it’s part of the job they’re expected to do as part of the mix. Here are some tips for tweaking track timing […]
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5 Basic Tips For Mixing Hip-Hop
It’s fair to say that most people reading my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook are mixing songs recorded with live musicians, but it’s a brave new world out there, and sooner or later you’re going to get some hip-hop in to mix. Needless to say, what works with most other genres won’t necessarily work here, especially when […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Production by Bobby Owsinski
How To EQ For Size
There are many methods of adding EQ to a mix. EQing for clarity, resonant frequency EQing, and frequency juggling immediately come to mind. That said, one of the most overlooked technique is using the EQ to add size to an element, which is particularly important in sparse mixes. Here’s an excerpt from the 4th edition […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering by Bobby Owsinski
Old School/New School Mixing With Bassy Bob Brockman
“Bassy” Bob Brockman has a wide range of awards and credits, including more than 30 Grammy nominations with two wins, and an Oscar nomination. His many credits include Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, the Notorious B.I.G., Babyface, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, The O’Jays, Brian McKnight, Jodeci, Faith Hill, Korn, Laurie Anderson, Vanessa Williams, Christina Aguilera, […]
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The Fix It Before You Mix It Checklist
Preparing for the mix can be as critical as the mix itself, since it allows for a more comfortable and efficient mixing session that minimizes mistakes and hassles. This prep occurs before the first fader is raised but sets the stage for an easier and mistake-free mix by having the files properly labeled and all […]
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A One Word Description For Each Frequency Band
One of the things I’ve found over the years is that it’s easy to interpret the demands of a client during a mix if you understand what they’re trying to get across. It’s amazing how just a single word can describe a frequency condition if we know what to listen for. That said, it’s sometimes […]
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6 Tips For Adding Effects To A Mix
One of the reasons why we record elements in stereo is to capture the natural ambience of an instrument. Because we can’t always record everything this way, we must create this aural space artificially, and that can be a problem for some new to mixing. There are so many choices and variables available with effects […]
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When It Comes To Panning, Respect The Big 3
One of the most overlooked or taken for granted elements in mixing is panorama, or the act of placing a sound element in the soundfield. To understand panorama we must first understand that the stereo sound system (which is two separate audio channels, each with its own speaker) represents sound spatially. Panning lets us select […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering by Bobby Owsinski
The 7 Signs Of An Amateur Mix
Before you can even delve into creating a great mix, it’s good to be aware of the traits of one that isn’t there yet. These 7 signs of a amateur mix come from the 4th edition of my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook and are useful in picking out problem areas, looking at it from a global […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Production by Bobby Owsinski
5 Simple EQ Tips That Work On Just About Anything
Equalization is one of the most difficult parts of recording to get the hang of since there’s literally almost an infinite number of possibilities. Most of us learn by experience and usually massive amounts of trial and error, but there are some very simple general guidelines that can be an enormous help for those new to […]
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